BIOENVIRONMENTAL AND RADIOLOGICAL-SAFETY FEASIBILITY STUDIES

ATLANTIC - PACIFIC INTEROCEANIC CANAL

ECONOMIC AND SOCIOLOGICAL REVIEW OF THE AZUERQ PENINSULA,

by

Alejandro Hernández

December 1, 1967

Prepared for Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus Laboratories, under the supervisión of Dra. Reina Torres de Arauz, Consultant, Human Ecology Studies, under U. S. Atomic Energy Commission Contract No. AT(26-1)-171

BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE Columbus Laboratories 505 King Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43201 BIOENVIRONMENTAL AND RADIOLOGICAL-SAFETY FEASIBILITY STUDIES

ATLANTIC-PACIFIC INTEROCEANIC CANAL

ECONOMIC AND SOCIOLOGICAL REVIEW OF THE AZUERQ PENINSULA, PANAMA

by

Alejandro Hernández

December 1, 1967

Prepared for Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus Laboratories, under the supervisión of Dra. Reina Torres de Arauz, Consultant, Human Ecology Studies, under U. S. Atomic Energy Commission Contract No. AT(26-1)-171

BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE Columbus Laboratories 505 King Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43201 FOREWORD

The purpose for presenting this special report is to furnish, to the scientists and technicians planning a new interoceanic canal, socioeconomic data of the Península of Azuero, an area which the undersigned considers of immediate concern. This report also can be considered as an introduction to more detailed studies that should be under taken in this región very soon as a natural and logical supplement to the studies being done elsewhere in the geographic sector of Route 17. The Archipelago de Las Perlas, lying in the Golfo de Panama near the Southeastern coast of the Republic, also should b the object of an in-depth study.

The period during which these proposed investigations would be performed is im- portant, and the studies ideally should be effected within a short time of each other so that a cióse relationship and equilibrium among the diverse data now being obtained might be secured.

Reina Torres de Araúz Consultant Human Ecology Group TABLE OF CONTENTS

Pag

INTRODUCTION...... 1

POPU LATION AND DEMOGRAPHY...... 2

HOUSING ..."...... 4

INTERNAL MIGRATION...... 8

ECONOMY OF THE REGION...... 10

Farm Production...... 11 Livestock Production...... 16 Milk Production...... 18 Industrial Activities...... 18 Fishing Activities...... 19 Prospects of Mining...... 20

BIBLIOGRAPHY 21 Route 17 - Interoceanic Canal Project

FIGURE 1. MAP SHOWING RELATIONSHIP OF THE AZUERO PENINSULA TO THE AREA OF ROUTE 17, PANAMA i<>-

San Francisco

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FIGURE 2. MAP SHOWING ROADS AND VILLAGES OF THE AZUERO PENINSULA, PANAMA ECONOMIC AND SOCIOLOGICAL REVIEW OF THE AZUERO PENINSULA, PANAMA

INTRODUCTION

The ecology of more than 130,000 people living in the Azuero Península oí Panama and those living in the Archipelago de Las Perlas has become important to the planning for construction of Route 17 of the proposed new Interoceanic Canal (see Figure 1), since meteorological studies have indicated that both locales lie downwind from proposed Route 17 and could possibly be affected by fallout of radioactive materials during levelling operations.

The age and civil status, by province, of the various segments of the population, their diets, and the economy of the región, including livestock production, fishing, farm- ing, and industrial activities, are significant factors in the planning being done by sci- entists working on the project. Also of importance are the patterns of internal migra- tion of the residents and the problems typical of their unique dwellings.

The area discussed in this paper ineludes only the Azuero Península, which is lo- cated about 125 miles West-Southwest of the project area and separated from it by the Golfo de Panama; the islands of the Archipelago de Las Perlas lie in the Eastern one- third of this body of water. The Península is made up of the provinces of Herrera and Los Santos and part of the province of Veraguas, all of which provide access to the Paci­ fic Ocean via small ports suitable for fishing use by small-scale fishermen operating rowboats and "cayucos”, the latter a notably seaworthy native dugout. The región is a part of the Pacific Plain, except for the mountainous spine of the Península, which is terminated at its Southern end by Cerro Cambutal, the highest point (3, 700 ft) in the area; several medium-size rivers origínate from the numerous peaks of the vicinity.

The only two communities in the Península that could be classified as urban centers are Chitre (1960 population, 9120), the administrative seat of the province of Herrera, and Las Tablas (1960 population, 3504), seat of the province of Los Santos; both pro­ vinces are divided into seven political distriets. The best-known communities in the province of Veraguas on the Western coast of the Península are Arenas and Mariato. The latter village ñame serves to identify the región, with no reference necessary other than "Mariato". This sector of the Península is almost totally isolated from the rest of the country due to the geography of the area, with the province's district of Montijo lying on the West side of the mountain range that is the dominant feature of the región and south of an extensive swampland.

Administratively, this district Selongs to , with its seat at the "corregimiento" of Arenas. The population is rather scattered and its members1 main activity is reduced to subsistence agriculture. Transportation is mostly by sporadic lightplane Service and small-boat navigation. Elementary schools have recently been established, mainly in Quebró and Arenas.

Since the is so isolated, of such relative unimportance to the eco­ nomy of the Península, and because complete records of the statistics of the región are practically nonexistent, most tables in this report refer only to Herrera and Los Santos provinces. 2

Most of the Península's population resides along the Northeastern coast that is served by a modern paved highway connecting the localities, with numerous unpaved roads extending from the main route and one paved adjoining highway reaching halfway into the Península midway down the East coast. A third paved route extends South from the Carretera Interamericana to serve the Northern one-third of the Península and form a trunk connection for other unpaved roads in the Northeastern sector.

POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHY

One of the principal characteristics of that portion of the Pacific Plain constituting the Azuero Península, at least the latter's Eastern one-half, is its high population Índex relative to the rest of Panama. However, the population density of the región shows a dispersed habitat, especially if a count of dwellings is the basis for such a comparison of the provinces, which exhibit fundamental differences in that respect. While in the population density grew from 20. 6 inhabitants per square kilometer in 1950 to 25.4 in 1960, it grew in from 15. 9 to 18. 2 during the same period (see Table 1).

TABLE 1. POPULATION CHANGES IN THE AZUERO PENINSULA, PANAMA

Density Political Subdivisión 1950 1960

Herrera Province *20. 6 *25.4

District:

Chitre 122. 0 154. 0 Las Minas 11.0 13.2 Ocu 16. 1 20. 1 14. 6 17. 6 Pese 25.0 31.0 Los Pozos 16. 9 20. 3 Santa María 24. 8 29. 6

Los Santos Province *15. 9 *18.2

District:

Guarare 32. 2 34. 4 18. 6 21.4 Pedasi 11.9 13. 5 Pocri 19. 6 19. 7 Los Santos 27.8 32. 9 Las Tablas 27. 1 27. 7 Tono si 3. 1 6. 0

* Average 3

The provinces of Herrera and Los Santos have shown marked variance in respect to their growth rate, caused by the differing natural factors found in the environment of each, including migration, epidemics, means of communication, employment possibili- ties, etc. Table 2 illustrates their respective rates of growth, based on data provided by the Statistics and Census Office.

TABLE 2. ANNUAL DEMOGRAPHIC RATE OF GROWTH PER THOUSAND INHABITANTS IN THE AZUERO PENINSULA

Period Province 1911-1920 1921-1930 1931-1940 1941-1950 1951-1960

Herrera 26. 0 16. 7 19. 9 27. 0 21.0 Los Santos 15. 8 17. 6 17. 8 21.0 14. 0

Census information relative to population is expressed by "rate of growth per thou- sand inhabitants", referring to demographic growth. The rate is prepared for any región on the basis of in situ growth, total of births less deaths occurred, takes into considera- tion the phenomena of migration, and is expressed as analyzing a determined period.

The General Comptroller' s Office, which compiles and records national statistics, has indicated an annual demographic rate of growth for the Republic of 29 per thousand inhabitants, but it does not indicate the figures per province or district, as would be de- sirable. If the fact is taken into account that each of the districts of the two provinces described has an abundant, stable population and that the annual demographic rate of growth is 29, it can be seen that Herrera Province is far below the national average.

One of the most significant facts of the population of the Azuero Peninsula is illus- trated by Table 3, which shows the age structure of the population for the provinces of Herrera and Los Santos. The fact that the región's population is very young can be seen, a circumstance also generally true of the Republic as a whole. Were a population pyramid constructed, the máximum would be found between the ages of 1 5 and 24, with a dominance of the 15- to 19-year-old group, which consists essentially of consumers, not producers.

TABLE 3. AGE STRUCTURE OF THE POPULATION OF HERRERA AND LOS SANTOS PROVINCES Herrera, Los Santos, Age In Years group total group total 10 - 14 1, 173 1, 028 15 - 19 3, 243 3, 519 20 - 24 • 3,012 3, 236 25 - 29 2,479 2, 571 30 - 34 2, 162 2, 302 35 - 39 1,777 1,987 40 - 44 1, 575 1,641 45 - 49 1, 377 1, 583 50 - 54 1, 033 1,228 55 - 59 793 966 60 — 64 731 863 65 - 69 443 498 70 - 74 252 410 75 and more 223 308 4

The total population of the province of Herrera presently is 61,672, according to statistics from the General Comptroller' s Office. Of these, 31, 540 are males and 30, 132 are females, and there is an economically active population of 17,401 males and 2, 872 females.

The total population of the province of Los Santos now is recorded at 70, 554, of which 36, 330 are males and 34, 224 are females; the economically active population numbers 19,717 males and 2,423 females.

The province of Veraguas on the Península's West side has a population of 4, 886, as estimated by the Office of Statistics and Census. Due to its isolation, it has served many times as a refuge for social outcasts.

A detailed breakdown of the population distribution, by sex, in the "corregimientos" of each district of the provinces of Herrera and Los Santos is given in Table 4. The re- lative importance of each community in regard to population may be derived from a study of this table.

HOUS ING

An analysis of the relative economic status of the average Panamanian may be made from the type of dwelling in which he lives; this basis also is valid for the individual resi- dents of the Azuero Peninsula. In the province of Los Santos there is an abundance of straw houses with dirt floors, whereas in the province of Herrera, especially in Chitre, commercial and private buildings are to be found that can compete with the best in Panama City or any other municipality of the Republic. This phenomenon also reflects the rela­ tive economic status of the respective regions and indicates the mode of life of the resi- dents of each; the colonists of Los Santos Province often emigrate to other places in the Republic, carrying their belongings with them.

However, the resultant frequent contact with people from other parts of the Repub­ lic, which is promoted by better roads and proximity of the región to Panama City, has brought about acculturation in respect to house types, with a greater diversity seen in the Peninsula in recent years.

Since the urban dwellings of the Peninsula correspond to those found elsewhere in the Republic, no description is made of them in this report. However, the rural dwellings merit a careful consideration, because houses of the same general type are found in areas near proposed Route 17 that have been colonized recently by people from the Azuero Peninsula.

The rural houses of the Azuero Peninsula are characterized by steep roof inclina- tion, designed to provide máximum protection from frequent rains occurring in this re­ gión. They are usually built with straw or cañe walls, and are generally square in form with a four-gabled roof and earth floor. These small houses are of two styles - with walls enclosed by leaves and without walls (hanging dwellings). Variations of roof struc- ture also are common - in some instances, dry sugarcane leaves are used to thatch the roof, while in other instances, rice straw is used. The roof rests on round wooden poles laid across four córner supports. 5

TABLE 4. POPULATION OF DISTRICTS AND CORREGIMIENTOS Population Districts and Corregimientos Male F emale Total Los Santos Provinee Guarare Guarare (capital) 1, 394 1, 394 2, 788 El Espinal 498 439 937 Guarare Arriba 196 170 366 Llano 510 451 961 363 335 698 933 890 1,823 Total 3, 894 3, 679 7, 573 Macaracas Macaracas (capital) 587 596 1, 183 Bahia Honda 433 412 845 594 550 1,444 Corozal 449 394 843 Chupa 583 598 1, 181 261 266 527 1, 213 1, 126 2, 339 La Mesa 449 369 818 Mogollon 396 336 732 Las Palmas 454 376 830 Total 5,419 5, 023 10, 442 Pedasi Pedasi (capital) 737 686 1,423 1,201 1,038 2, 239 Mariabe 346 309 655 476 446 922 Total 2, 760 2, 479 5,239 Pocri Pocri (capital) 611 523 1, 134 El Canafistulo 445 440 885 Laj amina 736 672 1,408 Paraiso 390 373 763 778 831 1,609 Total 2, 960 2,839 5, 799 Los Santos Los Santos (capital) 3, 141 3, 114 6, 255 La Colorada 529 472 1,001 Las Cruces 596 529 1, 125 658 586 1,244 831 745 1,576 Sabanagrande 871 822 1,693 Tres Quebradas 571 534 1, 105 Total 7, 197 6, 802 13,999 6

TABLE 4. (Continued) Population Districts and Corregimientos Male F emale Total Tonosi

Tonosi (capital) 367 351 718 1,486 1,287 2, 773 553 489 1,042 El Cacao 257 265 522 Cañas 481 431 912 Flores 441 353 794 Guanico 746 672 1,418 Total 4, 331 3, 848 8, 179 Las Tablas

Las Tablas (capital) 1, 665 1,889 3, 554 493 485 978 Bayano 750 730 1,480 271 227 498 506 541 1,047 Las Lajas 351 311 662 El Manantial 234 242 476 208 197 405 ElMuños 222 198 420 261 197 458 La Palma 928 844 1,772 Palmira 142 122 264 Las Palmitas 212 226 438 El Pedregoso 301 292 593 Peña Blanca 283 261 544 Rio Hondo 291 241 532 San José 438 396 834 San Miguel 107 114 221 Sesteadero 438 409 847 Santo Domingo 696 650 1, 346 Tablas Abajo 139 169 308 239 239 478 303 294 597 Valle Riquito 291 280 571 Total 9, 769 9, 554 19,323 Herrera Province Chitre Chitre (capital) 4, 369 4, 929 9, 298 La Arena 1,055 1,017 2, 072 Monagrillo 1, 609 1,656 3, 265 Total 7, 033 7, 602 14,635 7

TABLE 4. (Continued) Population Distriets and Corregimientos Male F emale Total Las Minas

Las Minas (capital) 729 752 1,481 Chepo 322 284 606 331 304 635 Leones 621 552 1, 173 Quebrada Rosario 1,043 919 1,962 El Toro 480 435 915 Total 3, 526 3, 246 6, 772 Ocu

Ocu (capital) 2, 198 2, 077 4, 275 Cero Largo 1,240 1, 128 2, 368 Los Llanos 1,632 1,487 3, 119 Llano Grande 614 573 1, 187 Peñas Chatas 976 867 1,843 Total 6, 660 6, 132 12, 792 Parita

Parita (capital) 1, 172 1,074 2, 246 Cabuya 511 435 946 Los Castillos 273 232 505 174 157 331 Paris 511 435 946 383 344 727 447 406 853 Total 3, 471 3, 083 6, 554 Pese

Pese (capital) 794 854 1, 648 Este 520 450 970 Norte 962 883 1,845 Oeste 1,045 926 1,971 Sur 1,219 1, 105 2, 324 Total 4, 540 4, 218 8, 758 Santa Maria

Santa Maria (capital) 1, 276 1, 139 2, 415 1,092 998 2, 090 Total 2, 368 2, 137 4, 505 Los Pozos

Los Pozos (capital) 855 884 1,739 La Arena « 259 227 486 398 367 765 El Cedro (Capuri) 489 448 937 Los Cerritos 507 533 1,040 Los Cerros de Paja 647 614 1,261 787 641 1,428 Total 3,942 3, 714 7, 656 8

Some residents build their homes of mud and clay, others use mud and straw, and those living under better economic conditions build dwellings of mud or wood and adobe, with galvanized iron roofs; but one-half the residences lack sanitary facilities, run- ning water, and other modern conveniences, and most of them generally are overcrowded. A rare few are connected to sewage systems existing in nearby towns.

Some types of houses have an internal división characteristic of the local culture, with very special functions separated by partitions, while many one-room dwellings that are used for shelter, kitchen, domestic workshop“(for rice crushing), and elementary stable are prevalent. The dwellings with separated functions generally have special sleeping quarters and a "joron" (attic space used for grain deposit), to which access is gained through coarse stairways carved from a thick piece of tree trunk.

In these more complex house arrangements, the dormitory or sleeping area con- tains beds built from bamboo cañe, poles, vines, thin canes (carricillos), and, on occa- sion, purchased furniture that was manufactured in other regions; however, many Azuero dwellers sleep on livestock hides thrown onto the earthen floor. The kitchen of such a dwelling usually has a "fogon" (high and low), or cooking facility, which consists of sev- eral big stones that support two kettles or pans for preparing meáis; the eating table is usually a box or simply two pieces of wood to which supports have been added.

The type of dwelling preferred in most of the Peninsula can thus be seen to be this "rancho", which is ideally adapted to an economy of nomadic tropical farming and is readily transferrable for use elsewhere by the population, which, because of its ethnic character and high degree of "guaymi" cultural influence, takes advantage of build- ing materials provided by the immediate environment in constructing living abodes.

INTERNAL MIGRATION

A net migrating movement from the provinces of Herrera and Los Santos for the 10-year period between the 1950 and 1960 Federal Censuses amounted to 4, 557 emigrants from Herrera and 15,857 from Los Santos, based on official figures. This net differen- tial takes into account both emigrants from and immigrants to each of the two main pro­ vinces of the Peninsula.

These facts could serve as starting points for a study in greater depth that would define more clearly the factors contributing to Los Santos' higher number of migrants. During the 1960 census study, 12, 676 persons from the province of Herrera and 28, 390 from Los Santos were counted in other provinces, while in 1950 there were 7, 384 from Herrera and 12, 348 from Los Santos, indicating that 5, 292 more inhabitants from Her­ rera and 16, 042 more from Los Santos were counted in other provinces in 1960 than in 1950.

Simultaneously, 3, 996 persons who had arrived from elsewhere were counted in Herrera Province, while in Los Santos Province 2, 382 persons were counted who were strangers; in 1950, there were 3,261 strangers registered in Herrera and 2, 197 in Los Santos.

Infernal migration has been defined as "movement of the population brought about by the transfer of persons from an inhabited place to another inhabited place in the 9 country"; these movements constitute a very important element of this report from the economic and social point of view and have followed several courses that have been caused by different motives: (a) the desire to settle in the terminal cities of Panama and Colon in order to benefit from the economic activity that is a result of the Panama Canal, or, on other occasions, (b) the manifest desire to own a piece of land for the economic welfare of the family. Both cases are typical reasons for the man from Herrera, Los Santos, Veraguas, or Chiriqui (western Panama) provinces to transfer to other areas.

Investigation of these migration currents was begun through the 1950 Census on Population Dwelling; it became possible at that time to record the place of birth and resi- dence of many citizens. Since then, serious studies on migration have been conducted and detailed information continúes to be searched for in this respect.

Despite efforts made in 1950 through the Statistics and Census office, the most serious attempt to analyze migration was made in 1960, when it became possible to in- clude the Republic as a whole in the study.

In Panama, as well as in other underdeveloped countries of Latin America, there is an internal migration from the country to the city that is present parallel to the process of urban and commercial development, which is a fundamental reason why the Republic faces a series of internal socioeconomic problems that become more serious as time goes by. The internal movement from one rural environment to another is well under- stood and occurs only if the migrant is either certain of being able to obtain a productive land area that will satisfy aspirations he has always entertained (a case typical of the migrant who has arrived in highly favored Darien Province in eastern Panama from Los Santos, Herrera, or Chiriqui), or perhaps if he has the opportunity of settling in areas that are more productive and have better commercial possibilities than his own ( a case typical of the migrant who settles in the highlands of Chiriqui Province).

The National Government, working through different institutions, presently is trying to learn in greater detail the intensity of the overall internal migration problem, but is very far from getting a perspective of the national reality in this respect. The Republic's geographical position has increased the exodus of the rural population to the urban centers and planned, continuous studies are required to attain the objectives outlined.

Official sources are not up to date; for instance, they indicate the following infor­ mation: "Persons from other provinces counted in the census in the province of Darien: in 1950...... Herrera 1, Los Santos 28; in 1960...... Herrera 6, Los Santos 73". During the preparation of this report, an investigation was conducted of the Nuevo Paraiso and Nuevo Paritilla communities of Darien Province (both considered typical of villages in which former residents of Los Santos now live), and it was learned that the population included the following emigrants from that province of the Azuero Peninsula • Community Men Women Children Total

Nuevo Paraiso 22 26 41 89 Nuevo Paritilla 15 17 43 75 Total 37 43 84 164 Total Adults 80 — 10

ECONOMY OF THE REGION

It is difficult to describe the economy of the Azuero Península in one aspect only, since it is divided into different sectors. The principal factors are:

(1) Farming production, or land use. This activity is well developed, but uses methods that are uneconomical if evaluated in respect to the effort put forth and the results obtained. One crf the types of farm operations most important nationally is commercial dairying.

(2) Livestock and poultry production, which is important, especially in the province of Los Santos.

(3) Industrial production, in which the geographical position of the Península has made it possible for trade to progress in direct relation with that of the terminal cities of Panama and Colon.

(4) Fishing activity, in which the presence of some small but good harbors has aided a considerable number of persons to make their living in this manner. Small boats, such as "cayucos" and rowboats, are used. Some- times fishing is done with nets and at other times with lines and hooks.

(5) Mining activity - this phase of the Península's economy is still in the developmental stage, with a project presently being conducted in co­ operaron with United Nations technicians to survey the mining poten- tial of indicated mineral deposits in the Southwestern portion of Herrara Province.

In the Península there is an enormous assortment of trees that produce lumber for use in houses and furniture; limber milis exist that have made considerable profit for their owners, but cutting operations have depleted some of the forestry wealth. The heavy rain forest in the Península provides a rich source of construction lumber also in the Montijo district of Veraguas Province, but there are only a few small entrepreneurs extracting this resource. In the past, a large American firm unsuccessfully urged the planting of African Palm in this area to produce edible oils.

The fauna of the región has been steadily depleted; however, species such as squirrels (Sciurus, sp), paca or striped rabbit (Cuniculus paca ssp), deer (Mazama americana), iguanas, etc., remain abundant.

The inhabitants of Herrera and Los Santos Provinces have taken advantage of their proximity to the sea and have built evaporation pits to produce salt that provides them with income for their daily living.

In general terms, it may asserted that the greater wealth of the Azuero Península is constituted by the land; however, this has been exploited by such poor cultivation meth­ ods that its soil horizon or arable layer is steadily being depleted. This is basically caused by the tropical environment, in which heavy rainfall for eons of time have leached Chemical elements from the subsoil as it has become weathered and thus prevented the formation of a thick soil horizon rich in the basic soil minerals of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potas sium (NPK). 11

The farm producers work a piece of land for a year and the next are forced to move to more virgin areas in order to obtain land with some mineral content. In many tropical areas, residents burn the vegetation periodically in partially effective attempt to return to the soil what few minerals have been taken up by the plants. The basic soil elements have become so depleted in many areas that nutritional deficiencies are suffered by residents because of the lack of minerals in their crops.

Farm Production

The Azuero Peninsula bases its farm economy on the production of several crops such as rice, corn, tobáceo, sugarcane, "truck-farm" vegetables (lettuce, sweet pepper, cabbage, tomatoes, etc.), yam, guandu (pigeonpea), coffee, beans, and the raising of livestock and poultry. The farming methods used are not modern or efficient and may be described as affording subsistence-level living only for practitioners of these methods.

Analysis of the economic pursuits of the populace of the Peninsula reveáis the fact that at least two-thirds of the residents are dependent on agriculture for a livelihood (see Table 5).

TABLE 5. DEPENDENCE UPON AGRICULTURE IN THE AZUERO PENINSULA

Dependent Population Economically Inactive Economically Over 15 Under 15 Total Total Province Active Years Oíd Years Oíd Dependents Population Herrera 14,184 9, 992 17,299 41,475 61,672 Los Santos 17,151 12,143 22,718 52,012 70,554 Total 31,335 22,135 40,017 93,487 132,226

The Azuero Peninsula is characterized by well-divided farm property and can be described as "minifundio" (consisting of small holdings). The per capita production suffers from the lack of scientific cultivation as well as from erosión of thin tropical soil horizons by excessive rainfall. The overall production of corn in both provinces appears to be diminishing despite an increase in surface area planted. In Herrera, the greatest land surface was planted in 1963-1964, but the greatest production occurred in 1962-1963, with the lowest yield in the last year recorded so far, 1965-1966 (see Table 6).

TABLE 6. CORN PRODUCTION IN HERRERA PROVINCE, 1961-1966

Period Hectares Planted Production in Quintáis

1961-1962 8, 400 176,800 1962-1963 8, 000 198,500 1963-1964 9, 100 174,500 1964-1965 8, 700 191,200 1965-1966 8, 800 169,800

The occurrence of production drops in certain crops of the area - for example, the decline in corn yield per area planted - is remarkable in view of the gigantic effort made 12 by different State institutions dealing with farm development in the Peninsula. These several agencies have been working in the Republic since January, 1953, and have de- voted considerable attention in their program for developing growth of national farming to policies favoring the Peninsula farmers' attempts to increase effective yield.

The corn-production trend described for the province of Herrera was not matched by that for the province of Los Santos, where the greatest land surface was planted in 1965-1966, resulting in the greatest overall production of corn (see Table 7). This fact might be attributable to less-used soils in the mor^ virgin lands of Los Santos Province, although the basic reason for the variance might go deeper than as to type of land avail- able; a study in depth would help pinpoint the factors that cause a significant effect in yield. A possible explanation is provided by the fact that the Southern province has more highland area due to its greater proximity to mountains in the región; this would lead to an expectation of different soil types and different climatic conditions and amounts of rainfall than in the generally lower lands of Herrera Province to the North.

TABLE 7. CORN PRODUCTION IN LOS SANTOS PROVINCE, 1961-1966

Period Hectares Planted Production in Quintáis

1961-1962 17, 100 305,600 1962-1963 17,200 351,000 1963-1964 17,200 311,000 1964-1965 17,400 355,800 1965-1966 19,600 366,200

Diet in the Azuero Peninsula relies heavily on rice consumption, and this reliance is the reason why rice production is important and the effort made in each región to in­ crease crop yields is considerable. Herrera Province experienced a trend in rice pro­ duction distinctly unlike that of corn (see Table 8).

TABLE 8. RICE PRODUCTION IN HERRERA PROVINCE, 1961-1966

Period Hectares Planted Production in Quintáis

1961-1962 8, 400 206, 300 1962-1963 8, 600 250,800 1963-1964 9, 400 266,400 1964-1965 13,000 357,400 1965-1966 12,700 360,100

The production of rice increased at a steady rate during the period reported to ap- proximately 75 percent more in the last year than in the first, while the production of corn fluctuated from year to year, finally showing a decrease in total quintáis produced. Los Santos Province showed a slight increase in rice production until the last year of the period, when a drastic reduction occurred; the area experienced less marked change than did Herrera, and production was characterized by considerable fluctuation during the period (see Table 9), while this Southern province of the Peninsula showed an overall in­ crease in corn production marked by minor fluctuations. 13

TABLE 9. RICE PRODUCTION IN LOS SANTOS PROVINCE, 1961-1966

Period Hectares Planted Production in Quintáis

1961-1962 12,500 325,900 1962-1963 12,800 313,600 1963-1964 14,800 338,900 1964-1965 15,300 394,500 1965-1966 14,900 265,700

Beans are the other important crop in the diet of the Peninsula's inhabitants, es- pecially the variety known as "chiricano", which owes its ñame to the fact that it first was planted in Chiriqui Province in Western Panama. Bean production has remained roughly constant, considering the production from both Herrera and Los Santos provinces but has been marked by a reversal in trend in each area during the period reported, with the top hectarage and highest production occurring in 1962-1963. Production in Herrera Province has declined steadily as area of planting has increased, while Los Santos Pro­ vince production has increased slightly parallel with an increase in planted area. Com- parative yield-per-hectare figures between the two provinces show that the Southern highland province of Los Santos has a definite advantage over its northern neighbor of Herrera in effective yield. This circumstance is probably not due to different methods of cultivation so much as it is due to effect of landforms upon climate and soil types (see Table 10).

TABLE 10. BEAN PRODUCTION IN THE AZUERO PENINSULA, 1961 -1966

Province Herrera Los Santos Hectares Production Hectares Production Period Planted in Quintáis Planted In Quintáis

1961-1962 1,600 12,200 1,200 11,400 1962-1963 2, 300 14,500 1,400 12,900 1963-1964 1, 300 6, 100 1, 600 13,500 1964-1965 1, 300 8, 400 1, 300 7, 600 1965-1966 1,800 9, 800 1,700 15,300

Farmers of this región of the Peninsula also cultivate cash crops such as coffee, tobáceo, and sugarcane for the commercial market, and there are a number of large- scale producers of these commodities (see Tables 11, 12, and 13).

Table 12 indicates that the Province of Los Santos has highly favorable soil for growing of tobáceo that is used for making cigars; the type of tobáceo cultivated in the general Azuero Peninsula area is destined for the manufacture of cigars (puros); it is not used in the manufacture of cigarettes, as this is not the variety used for this purpose. It is rather difficult to classify the varieties, as the producers generally classify them as "criollos", not knowing the real ñame. It is assumed there is a great possibility that the varieties are crossbred and consequently have produced a certain amount of degeneration in several instances; there are cases, however, in which producers have called this "Virginia tobáceo". The scant production figures of Herrera Province give no hint of the enormous effort that has been made by producers to obtain at least some cash return from their plantings. Again, the effect of local landforms upon the soils and climate of 14 the province of Los Santos probably exerts an influence conducive to the production there of high-grade tobáceo. A potential rise in the economy of this facet of the area's agricul ture might be realized by expanding such operations.

TABLE 11. COFFEE PRODUCTION IN THE AZUERO PENINSULA, 1961 -1966

Province Herrera Los Santos Hectares Production „ Hectares Production Period Planted in Quintáis Planted in Quintáis

1961-1962 4, 200 10,700 3, 100 6, 500 1962-1963 4, 000 12,300 2, 600 5, 600 1963-1964 4, 000 6, 100 2, 300 6, 100 1964-1965 3, 400 5,500 2, 600 5, 900 1965-1966 4, 000 5, 700 3, 200 6, 300

TABLE 12. TOBACCO PRODUCTION IN THE AZUERO PENINSULA, 1961-1966

Province Herrera Los Santos Hectares Production Hectares Production Period Planted in Quintáis Planted in Quintáis

1961-1962 20 60 70 730 1962-1963 210 2, 800 1963-1964 20 90 70 760 1964-1965 10 160 100 1, 200 1965-1966 10 100 80 1,000

TABLE 13. SUGARCANE PRODUCTION IN THE AZUERO PENINSULA, 1961-1966

Province Herrera Los Santos Hectares Production Hectares Production Period Planted in Tons Planted in Tons

1961-1962 2, 310 77,500 2, 060 56,500 1962-1963 2, 910 92,400 1,740 36,700 1963-1964 3, 150 113,000 1, 950 73,300 1964-1965 3, 530 135,200 2, 030 83,300 1965-1966

The data of Table 13 show that sugarcane cultivation is more widespread in Herrer than in Los Santos, with production nearly doubled during the period reported while sur- face area planted increased only 50 percent. Production changes correspond roughly to profit margins the producers have derived each year, but do not correspond necessarily to the effort expended during the period by Governmental agencies. The largest pro- portion of sugar production is located in Herrera, precisely near the sugar milis in the district of Aguadulce (the largest portion of sugarcane cultivation is done in the district 15 of Santa María, the northernmost district of Herrera Province near the milis). Produc- tion of sugarcane in Los Santos Province has been successfully expanded, also, with approximately a 50 percent increase in total yield as hectarage planted has remained constant.

If data on corn, rice, and bean production in Herrera and Los Santos provinces are studied, a variance between the figures of the provinces becomes apparent for each crop. This phenomenon is due to the effect of many technical and natural factors present in each area; continuing study would reveal a more clear understanding of these factors per- taining to the agricultural economy of the región. Technical factors contributing to vari­ ance inelude some of the following:

(1) Producers are ignorant of Science advances, and therefore their time is devoted to monoculture.

(2) The soil does not render full production, due to ignorance of the use of fertilizers in the required quantities and varieties.

(3) Cultivation is done mainly for subsistence; in other words, excess pro­ duction is sold in order to purchase or secure what is not produced.

Among the natural factors are the geographic conformation in itself of each of the provinces, the better means of Communications existing in Herrera than in Los Santos, the nearness of the agricultural-product consumers' markets, and the fact that Los San­ tos is a province dedicated to cattle raising (it must be taken into consideration that there is more land space there and that cattle raising in the Peninsula requires approximately one hectare per head). Another factor that might affect the comparative productions of the two provinces is transportation. Los Santos Province has perhaps less farmland that is readily accessible by roads than does Herrera Province; this could be a detrimental factor on production of certain cash crops produced in the area that would require trans- port to centrally located markets. The yield per hectare in both provinces for corn during the period reported is shown in Table 14.

TABLE 14. CORN PRODUCTION PER HECTARE IN THE AZUERO PENINSULA, 1961-1966 (TONS)

Period Province 1961-1962 1962-1963 1963-1964 1964-1965 1965-1966

Herrera 21.0 24. 8 19. 2 22. 0 19. 3 Los Santos 17.9 20. 4 18. 0 20.4 18. 7

Table 14 indicates that the greatest corn production per land area planted was in the 1962-1963 year; this fact also is evident in Table 15, which shows the rice production per land area for both provinces.

3SBU0TECA NAGWMWt PANAMA 16 3 4189 00053 8506

TABLE 15. RICE PRODUCTION PER HECTARE IN THE AZUERO PENINSULA, 1961 -1966 (TONS)

Period Province 1961-1962 1962-1963 1963-1964 1964-1965 1965-1966

Herrera 24. 6 29. 2 28. 3 27. 5 28.4 Los Santos 26. 3 24. 5 22. 9 25. 8 17.8

«

However , bean production reached its máximum yield in Los Santos Province in 1965-1966 and in Herrera Province in 1961- 1962 (see Table 16).

TABLE 16. BEAN PRODUCTION PER HECTARE IN THE AZUERO PENINSULA, 1961 -1966 (TONS)

Period Province 1961-1962 1962-1963 1963-1964 1964-1965 1965-1966

Herrera 7. 5 6. 3 4. 7 6. 5 5.4 Los Santos 8.7 7. 6 8. 4 5. 8 9.0

Small quantities of lettuce, sweet pepper, cabbage, tomato, guandu, yuca, sesame (oily grain), and yam crops are produced for the commercial market, since the food habits of Azuero residents do not involve consumption of many of these types of "truck- farm" vegetables. Two hundred sixty-one individual crops of lettuce, peppers, cabbages, and tomatoes were produced from 170 hectares in Herrera in 1965-1966, while 153 such crops were grown on 95 hectares in Los Santos. Yuca, yams, and guandu crops num- bered 1, 372 from 998 hectares in Herrera, while 551 hectares in Los Santos produced 14, 210 of these crops in the same year.

Livestock Production

Livestock slaughtering figures in the provinces of Herrera and Los Santos, although not constituting as high a rate per capita as is preferred by officials of the Republic, nevertheless are some of the highest in comparison to other rural areas of the country. In 1966, cattle slaughtered numbered 5, 138 in Herrera Province and 4,445 in Los Santos Province, with butchering operations concentrated in the chief administrative cities. Hogs slaughtered totalled 2, 093 in Herrera Province and 2, 495 in Los Santos Province during the same period. Meat products were shipped to markets in Panama and Colon in addition to their being sold in local markets of the Peninsula. Tables 17, 18, and 19 show the populations of cattle, hogs, and chickens from 1961, and Table 20 shows the amount of land in use as pasturage during 1960. 17

TABLE 17. HEADS OF CATTLE IN THE AZUERO PENINSULA

Province 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966

Herrera 90,236 101,300 98,500 106,000 123,500 128,000 Los Santos 158,963 169,200 176,200 198,300 216,400 224,000 Total 249,199 270,500 274,700 304,300 339,900 352,000

TABLE 18. HEADS OF HOGS IN THE AZUERO PENINSULA

Province 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966

Herrera 24,220 24,700 19,200 15,400 15,500 — Los Santos 46,120 44,900 37,600 33,600 34,200 Total 70,340 69,600 56, 800 49,000 49, 700

TABLE 19. NUMBERS OF POULTRY (CHICKENS) IN THE AZUERO PENINSULA

Province 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966

Herrera 252,777 261,100 238,100 204,400 270,100 — Los Santos 442,822 414,100 383,800 365,300 368,100 Total 695,599 675,200 621,900 569,700 638,200

TABLE 20. PASTURAGE AREA’IN THE AZUERO PENINSULA (1960 Census)

Natural Pasture Cultivated Pasture Number Number Of Fields Area, Of Fields Area, Total Province Utilized Hectares Utilized Hectare s Fields (Area)

Herrera 1, 562 11,976 4, 115 72,371 5,677 (84,347) Los Santos 1,544 8, 350 1, 524 128,894 3, 068 (137,244) Total 3, 106 20,326 5, 639 201,265 8, 745 (221,591) 18

The cattle populations of both provinces are seen to be steadily increasing despite relatively constant rates of slaughter, whereas hog population in both provinces shows a decline.

Milk Production

The livestock wealth most important to the Peninsula is the dairy population, which constitutes one of the major sources of milk products for the Republic. About 75 percent of the commercial sales of the dairy production from the Peninsula is sold to the Pana­ manian Milk Foods Company (Compañia Panameña de Alimentos Lácteos), which pro­ vides a main source of employment for many inhabitants of the región, constitutes one of the prime industries of the area, and provides the principal market of the región.

The production sold to this firm, which has its main office in Nata, province of Coele north of Herrera Province, is utilized to process condensed, powdered, and evap- orated milk (its main product) in addition to pasteurized milk. The percentage of com­ mercial milk production from the Peninsula not purchased by the Nata firm is consumed in various other parts of the Republic. Production has varied through the years, directly influenced by rainfall, type of livestock, and other factors. Table 21 lists the annual milk production of the provinces of Herrera and Los Santos from 1960 through 1966.

TABLE 21. MILK PRODUCTION IN LITERS OF THE AZUERO PENINSULA, 1960-1966

Province Year Herrera Los Santos

1960 3,560,402 5,218,539 1961 3,984,011 5, 412, 710 1962 4, 105,127 6,523,271 1963 4, 592,004 6,453,617 1964 4,460,293 6,378,783 1965 3,903,468 6,265,507 1966 5,456,271 7,013,157

Industrial Activities

Industries in the Azuero Peninsula inelude salt production (refining), alcohol pro­ duction (distilling of industrial alcohol and palatable liquors), and small-home manufact- uring (garments, shoes, furniture, and hats), but the economy in this región is primarily agricultural, with emphasis upon dairy products.

The province of Herrera produced 405,602 quarts of alcohol during the 1960-1965 period while Los Santos produced 135, 335 quarts in a like period (distillation milis are required to pay taxes on their production); milk production for the period was 5, 456, 271 liters in Herrera and 7, 013, 157 liters in Los Santos (see Table 21). Salt production per district in 1966 in those that possessed salt-refining facilities was 20, 566 quintáis in Guarare (Los Santos), 3,607 in Las Tablas (Los Santos), 87,886 in Los Santos (Los Santos), and 7, 535 in Chitre (Herrera). Tables 22, 23, and 24 show the production figures for the salt-producing distriets, with data taken from the Publication on Indus­ tries, 1966, edited by the Bureau of Statistics and Census, Series F, No. 1. The pro­ duction from the región of Aguadulce in the province of Coele, which, together with the provinces of the Azuero Peninsula, furnishes all the salt used by the Republic, is listed in Table 24. 19

TABLE 22. SALT PRODUCTION IN QUINTALS PER DISTRICT FOR LOS SANTOS AND HERRERA PROVINCES, 1960-1966

Province Los Santos Herrera Y ear

TABLE 23. SALT PRODUCTION IN QUINTALS FOR LOS SANTOS PROVINCE , 1967

Month District F ebruary March April Total

Los Santos 920 29,968 42,844 73,732 Las Tablas 849 9, 812 11,902 22,563 Guarare 605 8, 019 13,307 21,931 Total 2, 374 47,799 68,053 118,226

Note: Production figures during these months of 1967 for Pocri (Los Santos Province) and Chitre (Herrera Province) were unavailable.

TABLE 24. SALT PRODUCTION IN QUINTALS FOR THE REGION OF AGUADULCE, COCLE PROVINCE,, 1960 -1967

Year Amount Year Amount

1960 52,300 1964 91,738 1961 61,250 1965 90,866 1962 100,610 1966 72,576 1963 57,526 1967 85,804

Fishing Activities

In the Azuero Peninsula there are small harbors that have been used advantageously due to local community interest. A significant segment of the population, not yet deter­ mined, derives its living from fishing activities in this región. The harbors provide ac- cess to the Pacific Ocean and afford the opportunity of obtaining varied fish while per- mitting the production of salt from surface drying pits.

Among the fish to be found in this región are the following: 20

Local Ñame Scientific Ñame F amily Robalo (Snook) Centropomus undecimalis Centropomidae Pargo (Snapper) Lutjanus guttatus Lutjanidae Lisa (White Mullet) Mugil thoburni Mugilidae Jurel (Jack Crevalle) Vomer declivitrons Carangidae Corvina Cynoscion reticulatus Sciaenidae Mero Rypticus migripinnis Serranidae Bagre Felichyths pananjensis Ariidae

Fishing is done with small boats ("cayucos" and small rowboats) and by placing cor­ ráis near the beach for entrapment of catch; boat fishermen use hooks and bait (dead or alive) consisting of insects or small fish. Those who fish in deep water usually go out as much as 3 miles from the coast; this fishing is done at a water depth of 12 fathoms (about 65 feet).

The fishing season preferred by local inhabitants is during winter (November - April), since the strong summer (April - November) breezes off the coast make fishing dangerous at that time. According to reports from fishermen, an average of 150 pounds of fish may be caught by one fisherman each day during the winter, while during the dry season only about 70 pounds are caught daily.

The product from fishing is distributed in the neighboring towns as well as in the local community. The market for these fishermen is usually made up of botéis and pri- vate homes.

Prospects of Mining

Through special agreement between the National Government and the United Nations, there is a mining project in operation to learn the mining potential of Panama; through this project, Panama should know in the near future its various possibilities for production of commercial ores.

The "Azuero Mining Project" is underway and technicians at present are gathering technical data and obtaining samples of different rocks in the field in order to draw up geological maps; this work should permit them to lócate more closely the sites where commercial deposits of minerals are present and to determine the types of deposits.

There are no final reports yet of any of the regions under study by this project; the work is in its developmental stages and it is probable that in early 1968 there will be de- finitive reports; there are, however, early indications of a possibility in Azuero (in the distriets of Pese and Las Minas) of a valuable mineral deposit of a type not yet announced.

Engaged in this field work are both native and foreign technicians; they are all United Nation employees and will report their final findings to that organization. Some information will be provided in detail, however, to the Ministry of Agriculture, Com- merce, and Industries of Panama when the Ministry requests this information. 21 and 22

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Contraloria General de la República, "Características Económicas. " Sexto Censo de Población y Segundo de Vivienda, 1 1 de Diciembre de 1960. Dirección de Estadísticas y Censos, Panamá, Febrero de 1964. X Contraloria General de la República, "Migración Interna. " Sexto Censo de Población y Segundo de Vivienda, Dirección de Estadísticas y Censos, Panamá, Julio de 1965. X x X Contraloria General de la República, "Estadística Panameña. " Información Agropecuaria Animales y Productos de animales. Año de 1966; Dirección de Estadísticas y Censos, Panamá, Abril de 1967.

Contraloria General de la República, "Lugares Poblados." Censo de 1960, Dirección de Estadísticas y Censos, Panamá, 2 de Enero de 1962.

Contraloria General de la República, "Características de la Vivienda. " Segundo Censo de Vivienda, 11 de Diciembre de 1960, Dirección de Estadísticas y Censos, Panamá, Mayo de 1965. X* Contraloria General de la República, "Censos Nacionales de 1960." Sexto Censo de Población y Segundo de Vivienda, Volumen IV, Características Generales. Dirección de Estadísticas y Censos, Panamá, Septiembre de 1963. X Contraloria General de la República, "Panamá en Cifras, 3 de Noviembre 1966. " Direc­ ción de Estadísticas y Censos, Panamá, Octubre de 1966.

Rubio, Angel, "La Vivienda Rural Panameña." Imprenta Independiente, Colón, Rep. de Panamá 1950.

3IBLIOTECA NACIONAt PANAMA